Malena Jimenez, formerly a Criminalist with Missouri State Highway Patrol's Crime Laboratory Division, has joined STACS DNA as a Field Application Specialist. As a STACS-CW Enterprise customer for four years, Malena has seen first-hand how a large, multi-site lab significantly increased its efficiency and effectiveness.

The NIJ, which defines STACS software as a DNA Module, has funded several DNA labs for STACS software. Your DNA lab could be funded to cover the investment in STACS DNA software and services. Your team could drastically increase your DNA sample processing throughput, prevent errors, improve quality and lower costs - without hiring a single new employee - within the next year.

You don't need a LIMS to benefit; STACS software works standalone in DNA labs. If you have a LIMS, STACS can interface with it, not replace it, as we do in many labs. That's how you reduce duplicate data entry and input errors.

We've subtly updated our look, from "STaCS" to "STACS". We also changed our tagline to "Sample Tracking and Control Software for DNA Labs." That's what STACS DNA stands for - what we do is in our name.

Arizona DPS law enforcement officers have been trained to take DNA samples to the Rapid-HIT instrument for processing and generate search results in hours rather than months. This puts agencies in control of which DNA cases need to be fast-tracked without impacting the important work being performed by laboratory personnel.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received more than 1300 applications for new committees and subcommittees it is establishing to help strengthen forensic science. NIST opened an application period for the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) on April 11. OSAC is designed to strengthen forensic science by supporting the development of standards and guidelines to ensure accuracy of methods and practices in the nation's crime laboratories.

Five years ago, the National Academy of Sciences put out a report condemning the state of forensic science. It concluded that many common forensic techniques lack sufficient scientific underpinnings. Thousands of convictions were thrown into question. Now, a glimmer of progress is starting to emerge.

Scientific knowledge and expert opinions constantly evolve. When science marches on, how should the justice system respond? We have an obligation to resolve errors to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the criminal justice system.

Animal DNA profiling is becoming more commonplace as investigators realize that the same techniques used in human DNA analysis can also be applied to animal evidence such as saliva, urine, feces, blood, and hair.